Sister Rita Cliggett (Mother Mary Aidan, SHCJ), was president of Rosemont College from 1957 to 1962.
Sister Rita, who was also known by her religious name, Mother Mary Aidan, grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from John W. Hallahan High School in Philadelphia in 1932. The next year she entered the convent of the Sisters of the Holy Child in Rosemont and professed her final vows in 1940. She earned a bachelor's degree from Villanova University and a master's degree in religious education from Catholic University in Washington.
For 17 years, beginning in 1935, Sister Rita taught upper grades and was later principal at the former St. Edward School in North Philadelphia. In 1952, she was assigned to help open a parochial school in Washington and was the school's first principal.
Before being appointed president of Rosemont College, she had no experience in college administration.
"It was an act of obedience for her to accept the position," said Sister Emma Virginia Filer, a longtime friend and former Rosemont faculty member. "She had courage and intelligence. She could face any situation."
After leaving Rosemont in 1962, Sister Rita studied theology in Fribourg, Switzerland, for a year. In the 1960s and early 1970s, she taught and was principal in schools in California, New York and Maryland.
She was assistant to the president of Rosemont College from 1975 to 1977.
In the aftermath of the Vatican II reforms, the Sisters of the Holy Child encouraged the nuns to use their birth names and to work in the community. From 1977 to 1983, Sister Rita was assistant director and principal at the Overbrook School for the Blind. During her tenure, the school received outstanding ratings from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
For the last 11 years of her career until she retired to the Holy Child Center in 1994, Sister Rita was a spiritual director and counselor, leading retreats and workshops. She was a gifted counselor, Sister Emma Virginia said. "She treated you as someone special. You were the only one in the world; she gave you all her attention."
Sister Rita was awarded an honorary doctorate in pedagogy from LaSalle University in 1962.
In addition to her religious community, she is survived by a sister, Vera Cliggett.
Requiescat in pace!
Sister Rita, who was also known by her religious name, Mother Mary Aidan, grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from John W. Hallahan High School in Philadelphia in 1932. The next year she entered the convent of the Sisters of the Holy Child in Rosemont and professed her final vows in 1940. She earned a bachelor's degree from Villanova University and a master's degree in religious education from Catholic University in Washington.
For 17 years, beginning in 1935, Sister Rita taught upper grades and was later principal at the former St. Edward School in North Philadelphia. In 1952, she was assigned to help open a parochial school in Washington and was the school's first principal.
Before being appointed president of Rosemont College, she had no experience in college administration.
"It was an act of obedience for her to accept the position," said Sister Emma Virginia Filer, a longtime friend and former Rosemont faculty member. "She had courage and intelligence. She could face any situation."
After leaving Rosemont in 1962, Sister Rita studied theology in Fribourg, Switzerland, for a year. In the 1960s and early 1970s, she taught and was principal in schools in California, New York and Maryland.
She was assistant to the president of Rosemont College from 1975 to 1977.
In the aftermath of the Vatican II reforms, the Sisters of the Holy Child encouraged the nuns to use their birth names and to work in the community. From 1977 to 1983, Sister Rita was assistant director and principal at the Overbrook School for the Blind. During her tenure, the school received outstanding ratings from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
For the last 11 years of her career until she retired to the Holy Child Center in 1994, Sister Rita was a spiritual director and counselor, leading retreats and workshops. She was a gifted counselor, Sister Emma Virginia said. "She treated you as someone special. You were the only one in the world; she gave you all her attention."
Sister Rita was awarded an honorary doctorate in pedagogy from LaSalle University in 1962.
In addition to her religious community, she is survived by a sister, Vera Cliggett.
Requiescat in pace!
Sister Rita Cliggett (Mother Mary Aidan, SHCJ), was president of Rosemont College from 1957 to 1962.
Sister Rita, who was also known by her religious name, Mother Mary Aidan, grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from John W. Hallahan High School in Philadelphia in 1932. The next year she entered the convent of the Sisters of the Holy Child in Rosemont and professed her final vows in 1940. She earned a bachelor's degree from Villanova University and a master's degree in religious education from Catholic University in Washington.
For 17 years, beginning in 1935, Sister Rita taught upper grades and was later principal at the former St. Edward School in North Philadelphia. In 1952, she was assigned to help open a parochial school in Washington and was the school's first principal.
Before being appointed president of Rosemont College, she had no experience in college administration.
"It was an act of obedience for her to accept the position," said Sister Emma Virginia Filer, a longtime friend and former Rosemont faculty member. "She had courage and intelligence. She could face any situation."
After leaving Rosemont in 1962, Sister Rita studied theology in Fribourg, Switzerland, for a year. In the 1960s and early 1970s, she taught and was principal in schools in California, New York and Maryland.
She was assistant to the president of Rosemont College from 1975 to 1977.
In the aftermath of the Vatican II reforms, the Sisters of the Holy Child encouraged the nuns to use their birth names and to work in the community. From 1977 to 1983, Sister Rita was assistant director and principal at the Overbrook School for the Blind. During her tenure, the school received outstanding ratings from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
For the last 11 years of her career until she retired to the Holy Child Center in 1994, Sister Rita was a spiritual director and counselor, leading retreats and workshops. She was a gifted counselor, Sister Emma Virginia said. "She treated you as someone special. You were the only one in the world; she gave you all her attention."
Sister Rita was awarded an honorary doctorate in pedagogy from LaSalle University in 1962.
In addition to her religious community, she is survived by a sister, Vera Cliggett.
Requiescat in pace!
Sister Rita, who was also known by her religious name, Mother Mary Aidan, grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from John W. Hallahan High School in Philadelphia in 1932. The next year she entered the convent of the Sisters of the Holy Child in Rosemont and professed her final vows in 1940. She earned a bachelor's degree from Villanova University and a master's degree in religious education from Catholic University in Washington.
For 17 years, beginning in 1935, Sister Rita taught upper grades and was later principal at the former St. Edward School in North Philadelphia. In 1952, she was assigned to help open a parochial school in Washington and was the school's first principal.
Before being appointed president of Rosemont College, she had no experience in college administration.
"It was an act of obedience for her to accept the position," said Sister Emma Virginia Filer, a longtime friend and former Rosemont faculty member. "She had courage and intelligence. She could face any situation."
After leaving Rosemont in 1962, Sister Rita studied theology in Fribourg, Switzerland, for a year. In the 1960s and early 1970s, she taught and was principal in schools in California, New York and Maryland.
She was assistant to the president of Rosemont College from 1975 to 1977.
In the aftermath of the Vatican II reforms, the Sisters of the Holy Child encouraged the nuns to use their birth names and to work in the community. From 1977 to 1983, Sister Rita was assistant director and principal at the Overbrook School for the Blind. During her tenure, the school received outstanding ratings from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
For the last 11 years of her career until she retired to the Holy Child Center in 1994, Sister Rita was a spiritual director and counselor, leading retreats and workshops. She was a gifted counselor, Sister Emma Virginia said. "She treated you as someone special. You were the only one in the world; she gave you all her attention."
Sister Rita was awarded an honorary doctorate in pedagogy from LaSalle University in 1962.
In addition to her religious community, she is survived by a sister, Vera Cliggett.
Requiescat in pace!
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
